"The fact that they're dragging their feet is once again typical response when dealing with the executive branch," Winner said. He believes that Herb Teitelbaum, COPI's executive director, was in "cahoots" with the Spitzer administration. While some of his top aides were implicated in a COPI report on the matter, Spitzer was not.

"They certainly have not demonstrated, through the Troopergate investigation, in my estimation, that they conduct themselves in a way that demonstrates they are acting in a way independent of influence from the governor's office," Winner said.

Walter Ayres, a spokesman for the commission, confirmed the complaint about Paterson, but declined further specific comment. He said that generally, "there is no standard time" it takes to evaluate a complaint.

"It depends on the matter. We review a case before we begin an investigation. Among the things we look at is whether we have jurisdiction, whether the alleged violation is in fact a violation of the law, what our jurisdiction is, and what the best way is to proceed," he said.